College Procedure Number/Title:

Howard Community College (HCC) recognizes that sexual harassment damages the integrity of the educational institution, destroys the institution's positive work and educational atmosphere, and causes psychological and physiological damage to the victim.  The college condemns such illegal activity and is strongly committed to promoting an educational and work environment free from sexual harassment.  For the purpose of these guidelines, the college adopts the sexual harassment definition promulgated by the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

It is a violation of this policy for any member of the college staff to harass a student or employee through conduct or communications of a sexual nature as defined below.  It is also a violation of this policy for students to harass other students or for students to harass staff through conduct or communications of a sexual nature.

Definitions

Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other inappropriate oral, written, or physical conduct of a sexual nature, when made by a member of the college staff to a student or another employee or when made by a student to another student or to staff, constitute sexual harassment when:

  • submission to such conduct is made, either explicitly or implicitly, a term or condition of an individual's education or employment;
  • submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for academic or employment decisions affecting that individual; or
  • such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual's academic, professional or employment performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive academic or employment environment.

Sexual harassment, as defined above, may include, but is not limited to the following:

  • verbal harassment or abuse;
  • pressure for sexual activity;
  • repeated remarks to a person, with sexual or demeaning implications;
  • unwelcome touching;
  • suggesting or demanding sexual involvement accompanied by implied or explicit threats concerning one's grades, job, etc;
  • displaying pornographic or sexually suggestive images in a place or manner where others could view such images and be offended; or
  • using sexually suggestive language in a place or manner where others could hear such language and be offended.

Procedures are established to handle complaints made under the provisions of this policy.  The procedures provide that:  1)  the right to confidentiality, both of the complainant and of the accused, will be respected consistent with the college's legal obligations, and with the necessity to investigate allegations of misconduct and take corrective action when this conduct has occurred; 2)  persons filing complaints of sexual harassment will be protected against reprisals, but the deliberate filing of false accusations of sexual harassment will be condemned and may lead to possible disciplinary action.

A substantiated charge against an employee or student of the college will subject that person to disciplinary action.

Effective Date:  03/08/13